Local Pittsburgh Pirates fans can watch games on SportsNet Pittsburgh, available through select live TV providers including DIRECTV on channel 659 (streaming, satellite).
Out-of-market fans can access SportsNet Pittsburgh through the DIRECTV Sports Pack, or watch via an MLB.TV subscription.
It was another disappointing season for the Pittsburgh Pirates. They finished 71-91, missing the playoffs for the 10th straight season and posting their eighth straight losing season. There are reasons for optimism in Pittsburgh, though: the Pirates now have one of the best pitchers in baseball in Paul Skenes. With some new power in the lineup in 2026, this team is at the very least giving their fans a reason to believe that this team is in it to win it.
Check out the 2026 Pittsburgh Pirates TV schedule right here to make sure you never miss a single steal, home run or seventh inning stretch of the upcoming season.
Pittsburgh Pirates Team Info:
Founding Season: 1891
Division: National League Central
Home Ballpark: PNC Park
World Series Titles: 5 (1909, 1925, 1960, 1971, 1979)
2025 Finish: Did not make the playoffs
How Did the Pittsburgh Pirates Do in 2025?
The Pirates finished 71-91, which put them dead last in the NL Central for the second straight year. It was their seventh straight losing season and their ninth over the last 10 years. Pittsburgh scored the fewest amount of runs since 1985 when they were part of the NL East.
But the season was not without its highlights, and that starts with the Cy Young award-winning season from Paul Skenes. The 23-year-old led all of baseball and in two seasons, Skenes has yet to post an ERA above two. Last year he led the major leagues with a 1.97 ERA and just 0.5 home runs per nine innings. He also led the National League in WHIP and was named to his second straight All-Star team.
This was Skenes’ first season at full-time capacity as he broke 30 starts and threw 187 innings. In just 50 starts, he has already established himself as one of the game’s best pitchers.
O’Neill Cruz led the National League with 38 stolen bases to go along with 20 home runs. Bryan Reynolds collected 38 doubles and Ke’Bryan Hayes won a Gold Glove at third. But other than that, there wasn’t much to celebrate in the Steel City and fans are mostly just ready for a new year to begin.
2026 Pittsburgh Pirates Schedule
A strong start would go a long way for the Pirates as they look to turn around their losing fortunes over the last eight seasons. They start with a three-game series on the road against the Mets, who open as one of the top 10 World Series contenders and have 16 games against division opponents within the first six weeks of the season. For the Pirates, the season goes from 0 to 60 before Pittsburgh even completely thaws out from the winter.
Don’t miss a second of the Pirates 2026 baseball season. Explore the full Pittsburgh Pirates schedule right here and know exactly where to watch every game.
Games without national networks listed are typically available to watch on the team’s RSN, local streaming channel or MLB.tv team channel.
| DATE | OPPONENT | TIME | TV |
| Thu, 3/26 | @ New York Mets | 1:15 p.m. | NBC Peacock |
| Sat, 3/28 | @ New York Mets | 4:10 p.m. | |
| Sun, 3/29 | @ New York Mets | 1:40 p.m. | |
| Mon, 3/30 | @ Cincinnati Reds | 6:40 p.m. | FS1 |
| Tue, 3/31 | @ Cincinnati Reds | 6:40 p.m. | |
| Wed, 4/1 | @ Cincinnati Reds | 12:40 p.m. | |
| Fri, 4/3 | vs Baltimore Orioles | 4:12 p.m. | |
| Sat, 4/4 | vs Baltimore Orioles | 4:05 p.m. | |
| Sun, 4/5 | vs Baltimore Orioles | 1:35 p.m. | |
| Mon, 4/6 | vs San Diego Padres | 6:40 p.m. | |
| Tue, 4/7 | vs San Diego Padres | 6:40 p.m. | |
| Wed, 4/8 | vs San Diego Padres | 12:35 p.m. | |
| Fri, 4/10 | @ Chicago Cubs | 2:20 p.m. | |
| Sat, 4/11 | @ Chicago Cubs | 2:20 p.m. | |
| Sun, 4/12 | @ Chicago Cubs | 2:20 p.m. | |
| Mon, 4/13 | vs Washington Nationals | 6:40 p.m. | |
| Tue, 4/14 | vs Washington Nationals | 6:40 p.m. | |
| Wed, 4/15 | vs Washington Nationals | 6:40 p.m. | |
| Thu, 4/16 | vs Washington Nationals | 12:35 p.m. | |
| Fri, 4/17 | vs Tampa Bay Rays | 6:40 p.m. | |
| Sat, 4/18 | vs Tampa Bay Rays | 4:05 p.m. | |
| Sun, 4/19 | vs Tampa Bay Rays | 1:35 p.m. | |
| Tue, 4/21 | @ Texas Rangers | 8:05 p.m. | |
| Wed, 4/22 | @ Texas Rangers | 8:05 p.m. | |
| Thu, 4/23 | @ Texas Rangers | 8:05 p.m. | |
| Fri, 4/24 | @ Milwaukee Brewers | 7:40 p.m. | |
| Sat, 4/25 | @ Milwaukee Brewers | 7:10 p.m. | |
| Sun, 4/26 | @ Milwaukee Brewers | 2:10 p.m. | |
| Mon, 4/27 | vs St. Louis Cardinals | 6:40 p.m. | |
| Tue, 4/28 | vs St. Louis Cardinals | 6:40 p.m. | |
| Wed, 4/29 | vs St. Louis Cardinals | 6:40 p.m. | |
| Thu, 4/30 | vs St. Louis Cardinals | 12:35 p.m. |
Pirates not playing today? Find another matchup on the full MLB schedule, which includes MLB players, MLB teams and MLB standings to keep your head in the game
How to Watch the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2026
If you can’t make it out to the ballpark, there are plenty of ways to catch every game on the Pittsburgh Pirates schedule on DIRECTV. Below are a few places where you can watch the Pirates’ baseball games.
- SPORTS NET PITTSBURGH (Regional Sports Network) – DIRECTV Channel 659
- FOX SPORTS 1– DIRECTV Channel 219
- MLB NETWORK® – DIRECTV Channel 213
- ESPN– DIRECTV Channel 206
- ESPN 2 – DIRECTV Channel 209
- MLB EXTRA INNINGS®
- ABC – Find your local ABC channel
- FOX – Find your local FOX channel
- NBC – Find your local NBC channel
- TBS – DIRECTV Channel 247
Who are the Best Pittsburgh Pirates Players Right Now (2026)
Paul Skenes
Skenes is not only the Pirates’ best player by a mile, he’s easily entered the ranks of the top three pitchers in all of baseball. In 55 career starts, he’s posted a 1.96 ERA and he’s averaging 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings to go along with a 0.948 WHIP. We can go into all of the little details about the fact that in his entire career teams have yet to bat better than .200 against him and that they’re mustering just a .558 OPS. But it really just comes down to the fact that he’s utterly dominant and a generational talent.
Ryan O’Hearn
O’Hearn was signed in the offseason after batting .281 with 17 homers and 21 doubles with Baltimore and San Diego a year ago. He’s only played two full seasons in the majors but instantly becomes one of Pittsburgh’s best hitters.
Brandon Lowe
Lowe spent his entire career with Tampa Bay before being traded to the Pirates. Lowe is coming off of one of the best seasons, hitting 31 home runs with 83 RBIs and a .256 average. He helps provide some much-needed offensive power to this lineup.
O’Neill Cruz
Cruz has just played two full seasons in the majors but has already established himself as a 20-20 threat annually with unearthly power and speed from his 6’7″ frame. He’ll play a mixture of short and center field and with some better bats around him, could be poised for one of his better offensive seasons.
Marcel Ozuna
Signed at the tail end of the offseason, Ozuna gives the Pirates yet another power bat in the middle of the order. He had a down year in Atlanta last year but posted back-to-back seasons of at least 39 home runs and 100 RBIs in 2023 and 2024. If he can get back to those types of power numbers, he helps transform this lineup into one of a postseason contender.
Spencer Horwitz
Horwitz played in just 108 games last season but collected 26 doubles, 11 home runs and posted a .353 on-base percentage when he was available. He’s not your typical first baseman but gets on base, hits for solid power and will benefit from an improved lineup this season.
Bubba Chandler
Chandler appeared in seven games last season with the big-league club, going 4-1 with a 4.02 ERA and just a 0.93 WHIP. He’s Major League Baseball’s 11th overall prospect and will have every opportunity to get reps at the major league level. He profiles as another top-of-the-rotation arm that, along with Paul Skenes, could one day make this rotation one of the league’s scariest.
Konnor Griffin
The number one prospect in baseball, Griffin is just 19 but will either make the team heading into opening day or will make it there within the next couple of seasons. Across single-A and double-A last season, Griffin appeared in 122 games, batting .333 with 23 doubles, 21 home runs, 94 RBIs and 65 stolen bases. He is an electrifying player that will be in the middle of this batting order eventually. It’s just a matter of when.
Pittsburgh Pirates Rivalries to Watch in 2026
These are the Pittsburgh Pirates top rivalries in 2026.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Cincinnati Reds
The Pirates and their chief rival, the Cincinnati Reds, will go head-to-head again this season. This storied rivalry was among the fiercest in all of sports during the 1970s. The Pirates currently lead the series by a slim margin, but the teams have matched World Series title records.
*All games not noted are on regional network.
| DATE | OPPONENT | TIME | TV |
| Mon, 3/30 | @ Cincinnati Reds | 6:40 p.m. | FS1 |
| Tue, 3/31 | @ Cincinnati Reds | 6:40 p.m. | |
| Wed, 4/1 | @ Cincinnati Reds | 12:40 p.m. | |
| Fri, 5/1 | vs Cincinnati Reds | 6:40 p.m. | |
| Sat, 5/2 | vs Cincinnati Reds | 4:05 p.m. | FS1 |
| Sun, 5/3 | vs Cincinnati Reds | 1:35 p.m. | |
| Fri, 6/26 | vs Cincinnati Reds | 6:40 p.m. | |
| Sat, 6/27 | vs Cincinnati Reds | 4:05 p.m. | |
| Sun, 6/28 | vs Cincinnati Reds | 1:35 p.m. | |
| Thu, 7/30 | @ Cincinnati Reds | 7:10 p.m. | |
| Fri, 7/31 | @ Cincinnati Reds | 6:10 p.m. | |
| Sat, 8/1 | @ Cincinnati Reds | 6:40 p.m. | |
| Sun, 8/2 | @ Cincinnati Reds | 1:40 p.m. |
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Philadelphia Phillies
It’s Pennsylvania vs. Pennsylvania in this famous rivalry between the Pirates and the Philadelphia Phillies. This one got its start back in 1887, when the Pittsburgh Pirates were founded, but has since flamed out a bit since the 1990s amid divisional shuffling.
*All games not noted are on regional network
| DATE | OPPONENT | TIME | TV |
| Fri, 5/15 | vs Philadelphia Phillies | 6:40 p.m. | |
| Sat, 5/16 | vs Philadelphia Phillies | 4:05 p.m. | |
| Sun, 5/17 | vs Philadelphia Phillies | 1:35 p.m. | |
| Mon, 6/29 | @ Philadelphia Phillies | 6:40 p.m. | |
| Tue, 6/30 | @ Philadelphia Phillies | 6:40 p.m. | |
| Wed, 7/1 | @ Philadelphia Phillies | 6:40 p.m. | |
| Thu, 7/2 | @ Philadelphia Phillies | 12:35 p.m. |
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